Explosion-engine.



No. 727,777. I l PATENTED MA'Y 12, 1903.

` L'. M. FOSTER.

EXPLOSION ENGINE.

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UNITED STATES vLUCIAN M. FOSTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TOUNITED Patented May 12, 19.

PATENT OFFICE.

STATES CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

EXPLOSION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part o'f Letters Patent N 0. 727,777, dated 'May12, 1903.

Application file'dSeptemher 12) 1900. Serial No. 295796. (No model.)

To @ZZ Awhom/it may concern,.- A

Be it known that I, LUorAN M. `FOSTER, of Boston, county ofiSulolk, andStateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inExplosion-Engines,'of which the following description, in l,connectionwith Vthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on thedrawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates yto an explosive-engine, and is embodiedin a novel construction and arrangement whereby a Variable stroke of thereciprocating member or piston is obtained for the purpose in afourcycle engine ot' clearing the cylinder at every other stroke bycausing the piston to move wholly to the end of the cylinder and atalternate strokes to provide a space for the (3h/arge by causing thepiston to stop before it reaches the end of the cylinder.- Thisisaccomplished in accordance with the present invention by interposingbetween the piston and its connecting-rodor pitman a yieldingconnecting.

device of novel construction and arrangement, the normal positionof saidpitman and vpiston being such that the piston during the instroke willtravel substantially to the end .of the cylinder, this being thecondition during the exhaust-stroke of the engine. During the alternatestrokes, however, when a charge has been admitted to the cylinder the.

- a larger charge, so that uniformity in the quality of the charges willbe secured under diiferent conditions of power and speed, as is desiredfor governing purposes. f

In accordance with the `invention the piston is connected'with the crankthrough the agency of a pitman, and the pitman is yieldingly connectedwith the piston through the agency of a coupling ,member and yieldingVconnecting device, such as a spring, the coupling member being jointedto the pitman and having a bearing against a supporting-surling memberhaving a yielding connection with the piston, so that the actualposition of the piston may be varied with relation to the pitman for thepurpose above stated.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a cylinder and pistonconstructed in accordance with the invention, the other operating partsof the machine, with the exception of the crank and shaft, beingomitted, the parts in this View being shown as at the end ot'v theexhaust-stroke; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the parts after thebeginning of the next stroke, during which period' the charge isbeingjntroduced into the cylinder; 'lFig.. 3, a similar view showing thepiston in an intermediate position, and Fig. 4 a simiiar view showingthe piston at the end of the .compressionrstroke Thepiston orreciprocating member b is contained in the cylinder a in the usual way,the said cylinder being `provided with the proper mechanism for theadmission and exhaustof the charge, the ignition of the same, &c., theseparts not being shown, since they may be of any ordinary construction.

In accordancewith the invention the piston instead of being rigidlyconnected with the crank A2 of the main or driving shaft A is yieldiuglyconnected therewith through the agency of a spring or equivalentyielding connecting device c, by means of which the pitthe agency of acoupling member or rocker d2, which is jointed' at d3 to theconnectingrod or pitman d, the said rocker coasting with a bearing-faceb2, formed in the piston b, one of the said cooperating bearing parts orfaces being curved, the rocker d2 being herein shown as having a curvedsurface. The rocker is held in engagement with the bearing-face b2 bymeans of a coupling member d4, which is connected with a plunger d5,between which and the rear of the bearing-face i face connected with thepiston, the said coupman d and the piston b are connected through h2 isinterposed the spring c. It is obvious,

therefore, that the piston as a whole can move independently of thepitman d, for the reason that the spring c will yield, thus permittingthe point where the pitman d and the rocker d2 are jointed to movetoward the bearing-face b2, the movement in the opposite directiontaking place when the spring expands.

In Fig. l the parts are shown in normal position, the piston beingsubstantially in contact with the end of the cylinder, so that if theexhaust-valve is open the cylinder will be completely cleaned of theproducts of combustion of the previous charge. In the operation of afour-cycle engine during the next outstroke the inlet-valve will beopened, and as the piston travels outward the fresh charge will be drawnin ready for compression during the next instroke, during which theinletvalve will be closed, the piston being shown in Fig. 2 as havingtraveled part way out. When, therefore, the piston starts back with thefresh charge confined in the cylinder, it will tend to compress the saidcharge, and the spring will yield to such extent as is necj essary, theparts finally coming to approximately the position shown in Fig. 4, withthe compressed charge inclosed in the space behind the piston, thecompression of the charge depending upon the strength of the spring,since the movement of the jointed end of the pitman is constant. Thecharge being ignited will expand andact upon the piston in the usualway, and at the end of the outstroke the exhaust will be open, so thatdur- 1 ing the next inst-roke the action ofthe spring will not beresisted, leavingthe piston free to travel completely tothe end of thecylinder to fully clear the same of theprodncts of combustion.

I claim- 1. An explosive-engine comprising a reciprocat-ing member, suchas a piston, having a bearing-face, a coupling member jointed to theconnecting-rod or part which receives m0- t-ionfroin the piston andadapted to stand at dierent angles with the connecting-rod', saidcoupling memberhaving a complemental bearing-face, and a yieldingconnection between the two members, whereby a yielding contact ismaintained between the said bearing-faces, one of said faces beingcurved.

2.- An explosive-engine-comprising a reciprocating member, such as a'piston, having a bearing-face, a coupling member jointed to theconnecting-rod or part which receives motion from the piston and adaptedto stand at different angles with the connecting-rod, said couplingmember havin-g a complemental 6o bearing-face,4 a rod jointed to theouter portion of said coupling member, and a spring' interposed betweena bearing on said rod and a bearing on the piston, whereby a yieldingcontact is maintained between the said bearing-faces, one of said facesbeing curved.

3. An explosive-engine comprising a piston having a fiat bearing-face, acoupling member jointed to the connecting-rod which receives motion fromthe piston and having a 7o curved bearing-face resting against the fiatbearing-faceof the piston, a rod jointed to the outer portion of thecoupling member, and a. spring interposed between a bearing on the outerportion of the rod and a bearing on the piston, whereby a yieldingcontact is maintained between the said bearing-faces.

4. An explosive-engine comprising a re'- cessed piston, a fitting seatedin the recess of the piston and having a flat bearing-face, a 8ocoupling member jointed to the connectingrod which receives motion fromthe piston i and having a curved bearing-face resting against the saidfiat bearing-face, a rod jointed to the outer portion of the couplingmember and extending through the said fitting into a. cavity between thefitting and the head ofI the piston, a bearing-head jointed to the outerportion of the rod, and a spring interposed between the saidbearing-head andthe fitting. 9o 5. An explosive-engine comprisingapiston Vhaving a flat bearing-face, aconpling member jointed to theconnecting-rod which receives motion from the piston and having a curvedbearing-face resting against the flat bearing; face of the piston, a rodjointedto the outer portion of the coupling member, a spring interposedbetween .a bearing on the outer portion of the rod and a-bearing on thepiston, whereby a yielding contact is maintained bero: tween the saidbearing-faces, and a couplingretainer on the piston having avsegmentalre.- taining-face engaging a portion of the coup` ing.

Intestimony whereot` I have signed my ieg name to this specification inthe presence ofA y two subscribing witnesses.

LUCI'AN M. FOSTER.

